Radiator fin construction



May 28, 1935. o. c. PALMER RADIATOR FIN CONSTRUCTION Filed N 27, 1931 Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED? STATES v'Z l 23 PATENT OFFICE j This invention relates to radiators of the-type commonly employed as a portion of the water cooling system associated with an internal combustion engine, although it is to be understood that the radiator construction of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this use.

An object of the invention is to provide a radiator construction wherein each of a plurality of fins or spacing .plates interposed between the water tube members of the radiator core, is of a novel design, resulting in greatly improved emciency in conducting heat from the water tube members and disseminating the heat to the air flowing through the air cells.

A more detailed object is the provision of an improved spacing plate which attains its increased efficiency in'conducting heat from the water tube members by an increased number of areas. of

contact between each spacing plate or fin and the water tube members between'which it is positioned or with another spacing plate disposed between the same two tube members.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description or the inventions particular embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing accompanyingand forming a part of the specification. r

7 Referring to the drawing:

Fig.1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a radiator construction embodying the principles of the presentinvention. I Fig. 2 isatransverse' vertical sectional view takenupon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the direc-'- tion of view as indicated. I r

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with the direction of view as indicated.

."Fig. lis'a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a still further modified arrangement of spacing Plates. 3 w

Referring first to" that modification of my invention which is illustrated upon Figures 1' to 3 inclusive, '1 have provided an improved arrangement of fins or spacingpIates-M, a group of -which -isplaced between adjacent sets of water tube members I2, each set being arranged in one plane and parallel to the other set, whereby one set of water tube members l2 of a radiator is separated from the adjacent set. Whereas the fins 4| may be employed to advantage, in conjunction with water tube members 2 of various designs,

the tube members 2 illustrated are each composed of a pair of vertically extending plates l3 and I4 in face to face abutment, each plate I3,.

4 having. longitudinally extending channels l6 formed therein by extruding portions of thestrip from the planeof the remainder thereof. These channels extend preferablythroughoutthe entire length of the associated plate and are placed in registry with each other, .thereby forming Ver tically extending tubes llthrough which the water to be cooled may flow; Forming the channels l5 this manner'results in pressing portions 48 of the metal-of each strip I3, I 4 outwards from theouter face thereof, in the form of ridges or beads which project into the space or airchannel l9 between the associated water tube. member I2 and the water tube member next adjacent thereto.

A plurality of my improved fins 4| are disposed within each of the air channels l9. 1

The water flowing through the tubes (1e livers heat by conduction to the plates 13 and-l4 with which it is in contact, and it is the func--' tion of'the fins or spacing plates 4| to conduct the greatest possible quantity of the heat thus imparted to the water tube members and'disseminate the heat .to the air flowing through the spaces 9 between water tube" members. Each of the fins 4| is formed froma strip of metal,

preferably'tinned copper, and is. pressed or other-T wise formed into major corrugations which extend transversely of the strip, i. e., perpendic ularly with respect to the beads 48. 1

Each'ofthe crests 23 of the" major corrugations 43 is indented at intervals, each-indentation 24 corresponding substantially in width tothe; I

width of one of the beads48 and the spacing be-- tween the indentations being equal to that of the beads 48, so that each indentation 24 on thatfaceof a fin4| which is proximal to a tube member I2 is adapted to provide a seat for one of the beads with thecrest 23 of the associated major corrugation 43 extendingbeyond the outermost portion t of that bead and engaging the water tube member l2 uponeach side of the bead. The indentations are providedzby'reversely bending thecrest of each major cor-'- rugation 43 at the proper intervals, thereby providing minorc'orrugations46 which extend'in the' opposite direction, i..'e., into thevalley defined by theconcave side of the major corrugation, as clearly shown upon Fig. 2.

In order to increase the efficiency of the fins 4| in disseminating the heat accumulated thereby to the air flowing through the air cells I9, I have provided means for interrupting the smooth flow of airtherethrough, and for presenting a large number of cutting edges to the air stream. Each end of each minor corrugation 46 is severedfrom the metal of the associated major corrugation 43 along both ends of the minor corrugation, the result being that each triangular air cell 22 defined by the concave side of a major corrugation words, each air cell 22 is of triangular cross secticnal configuration throughout certain spaced intervals of its length, and its cross section is in the form of two smaller trianglesand a diamond throughout the remaining portions'of its length. Moreover, the crest 41 of cachminor corrugation 46 is provided with a smaller indentation 34 which projects for a slight distance into the space or valley 35 'defined'by that minor corrugation. These 'indentationsfls extend into the air stream passingthrough the valley 35 and impart turbulence thereto, throwing the .air across'the passa'geand causing ittoi'rnpinge with greater force against the opposite side thereof. Another advantage of providing the indentations 34 lies in the fact that when the metal of the crest 2T is'reversely bent to make the indentation, the endsof the associated section'or" the minor corrugation are drawn together, thereby slightly reducing the length of the section, and'assisting in drawing that section out of the hollow in the roll or die whereby the stripis being formed.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show one manner of grouping of the fins 4|. In this modification there are two fins interposed between each two adjacent water tube members 12. The crests 41 of all'the minor corrugations on one side of the fin or plate 41'. lie in a plane closely adjacent to and just inside the plane of the crests 44 of the major corrugations on the other side of the plate. :The major corrugations. on one side of each. plate 4 l engage a water tube member I2 I between the beads 48. thereof, and the crests 44" of the major corrugations of the same plate, but onthe opposite side thereof, engage the corresponding orests 44 ofthe other plate M which is disposed within the same air space I9. In order to assist inholding the crests 44' whichthus engage ieach other, against.slipping laterally,'iIi;prefer that a slightdepression 5! be formed in cheer the crests adapted to receive the crest 44 with'which it is in engagel ment,'as clearly shown'upon Figs. 2 and 3.

QFig; 4 shows a still further modified form, wherein two fins .52 are disposed between each two adjacent 'water tube members 53, but instead of having theinner crests 540i the major corrugations in abutment with each other, the

two fins 52 areshifted slightly'with respect to each other, so that the major crest 54 of one fin extends alongside" a major crest of the other fin;;so that the side edges of the major corrugations '56 'are r in face-to face abutment throughout a portion of their'width.

Itis to be. understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A radiator construction comprising a first et of water tube members, a second set of water tube members in spaced parallel relation thereto forming an air channel therebetween, each set of water tube members having beads thereon projecting into the air channel, and twofins in the air channel, each fin being a transversely corrugated section of sheet metal, the corrugations of each section forming two sets of crests, each fin having crests of one set engaging the adjacent water tubemember between the beads thereon, and portionspf said crests opposite the beads on the water tubemember bent reversely so as to be between the crests of the'other set of crests on the same firnthe crests of said other set of each fin being in engagement with each other and having portions opposite the beads reverse'ly bent into engagement withthe beads between the crests of the first set of each fin, and interlocking means holding said two fins against displacement relatively to,v each other.

7 2. A radiator construction comprising a first set of waterv tube members, a second set of water tube members in spaced parallel relation thereto forming an air channel therebetween, each set of water tube members having beads thereon projecting into the airchannel, and two fins in the air channel, each fin being a transversely corrugated section of sheet metal, thecorrugations of each fin forming two sets of major crests, one

set of crests of each fin engaging the adjacent Water tube member between the beads thereon, each set of major crests having portions opposite the beads reversely bent forming a set of minor corrugations between the major crests of each fin,'one set of minor corrugations of each fin engaging the adjacent water tube member. across the beads thereof, the other set of minor corrugations cooperating with the other set of major corrugations to embrace the sidesof major crests of the adjacent fin.

'3. A radiator construction comprising a first setof'watertube members, a second set of water tube members in spaced-parallel relation thereto forming an air channel therebetween, each settof water tube members having beads thereon projecting into the airchannel, and two fins in'the air channel, eachfin being a transversely corrugated section of sheet metal, the corrugations of each fin forming two-,setsof crests, each fin having crestsof one set engaging the adjacent water tube member between the beads thereon, and portions of said crests opposite the beads on the water tube member bent reversely soas to be between the crests of the other set of crests on the same fin, the crests of said other set of each fin being in engagement with each other and having portions opposite the beads reversely bentinto engagement with the beads between the'crests of the first set of each fin, said two fins being interlocked 'to hold them against. displacement. relatively to each other.

OSCAR C. PALMER. 

